Governors at Calversyke Middle School want the council to give its teachers the chance to apply for a job in the new primary school to be built on its site. Calversyke and Guard House currently share the same campus in School Lane. Under Bradford council's current proposals, Calversyke will close next year and its buildings will be used by the new primary school.

Staff from Guard house will retain their current positions in the new set-up, and the school will be run by management and governors from Guard house.

Calversyke teaching and support staff currently face an uncertain future, with redeploymnet to another school a distinct possibility. Bradford council has maintained all along there would be no compulsary redundancies after the shake-up.

In addition to the Calversyke governors, bosses at other Keighley middle schools which are closing have also called for fairer treatment for middle-school staff who are losing their jobs.

John Dawson, chairman of Calversyke governors, says: "We believe that the current proposal to close Calversyke while keeping open Guard House First School is a very serious mistake. It is unfair to the Calversyke staff, it has already caused damage to morale and it is likely to lead to staff departures. None of this is good for our children."

Governors also point to section eight of the school review proposals, which states: 'Where two schools exist on one site proposed for one school, change could be achieved by closure of the two schools and the opening of a new school'. After agreeing on a number of resolutions, governors submitted the new set of proposals to the review team before the deadline last week.

Although governors at Guard house are less enthusiastic about the idea, they agree fundamentally with what is being suggested. Chairman Helen Beveridge says: "I think that is how we feel about the situation, and if there is going to be reform we would rather it was done this way. There is going to be a situation where there will not be enough places for every member of staff. In the long run I think it is only right that everyone should have a fair chance."

The two sets of governors have not yet discussed the plans together, and have revealed no plans to meet. If the current school review proposals are accepted by an education committee on June 23, the joint site will be used to accommodate up to 525 pupils aged four-11.

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